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Apr 26, 2006, 9:01 am (22 comments)
Updated: April 26, 2006, 12:14 pm
Scam artists are targeting Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Already one woman from Chesapeake is out almost five thousand dollars because of a lottery scam.
The State Police asked us to alert you about a bogus lottery sweepstakes letter that's been sent to at least three people here in Hampton Roads.
It says it's from a sweepstakes in the Virgin Islands... and you of course are a big winner.
The letter says you need to cash a check sent in the mail for $4,800.
A Chesapeake woman deposited the money at her ATM, the check cleared and later bounced but not before she sent the scam artists the money for so called international taxes.
Police warn no legitimate lottery will ask for any money before you receive your full prize.
"A lot of times you get a thrill you think you just won the lottery. A lot of times like in this case, you receive a check and you say here's a check right here I can go and deposit it and I can start collecting my winnings but unfortunately it's often not the case," said special agent Josh Fannon with the State Police.
There are other red flags to detect if the prize is legit.
Check for spelling or grammar errors in the letter and remember you should never give any personal information over the telephone.
Anyone who receives notification that they won $50,000 from "Western Lotto Sweepstake Inc." is being asked to call state police at (757) 424-6855.
WTKR
"It says it's from a sweepstakes in the Virgin Islands... and you of course are a big winner."
I wonder if she Entered the VI Sweepstakes? If NOT, I wonder why she thought she had Won something she never Entered? Official looking Letter? Blinded by the Big Money? When does Logic kick-in and they say to themselves: If I Won Why am I sending them Money? or If I Won Why don't they Deduct the International Taxes from my Winnings?
"It says it's from a sweepstakes in the Virgin Islands... and you of course are a big winner."
I wonder if she Entered the VI Sweepstakes? If NOT, I wonder why she thought she had Won something she never Entered? Official looking Letter? Blinded by the Big Money? When does Logic kick-in and they say to themselves: If I Won Why am I sending them Money? or If I Won Why don't they Deduct the International Taxes from my Winnings?
Since when there are INTERNATIONAL taxes on lottery winnings?
We see this over and over and over.....
I wish the Network news, USA today and local papers would make this a headline story so some of these people that don't have internet access will know not to fall for these scams ...
Sad, but true :
As long as people have money, there will always be predators looking to steal it.
We see this over and over and over.....
I wish the Network news, USA today and local papers would make this a headline story so some of these people that don't have internet access will know not to fall for these scams ...
Sad, but true :
As long as people have money, there will always be predators looking to steal it.
Sadly man has not evolved very far from Caveman Days: We still have folks taking advantage of other folks.
"It says it's from a sweepstakes in the Virgin Islands... and you of course are a big winner."
I wonder if she Entered the VI Sweepstakes? If NOT, I wonder why she thought she had Won something she never Entered? Official looking Letter? Blinded by the Big Money? When does Logic kick-in and they say to themselves: If I Won Why am I sending them Money? or If I Won Why don't they Deduct the International Taxes from my Winnings?
Since when there are INTERNATIONAL taxes on lottery winnings?
Yes, the International Taxes ONLY apply to Lump Sum Distributions!
makes you wonder how many people do not report this type of scam,......
We see this over and over and over.....
I wish the Network news, USA today and local papers would make this a headline story so some of these people that don't have internet access will know not to fall for these scams ...
Sad, but true :
As long as people have money, there will always be predators looking to steal it.
Sadly man has not evolved very far from Caveman Days: We still have folks taking advantage of other folks.
Hey,that is not cool.Don't you watch those GEICO commercials?Yes,we are still around!
here we go again unfortunately someone trying to get something for nothing.
She should've asked herself have I played a virgin island lottery lately ?
We see this over and over and over.....
I wish the Network news, USA today and local papers would make this a headline story so some of these people that don't have internet access will know not to fall for these scams ...
Sad, but true :
As long as people have money, there will always be predators looking to steal it.
Sadly man has not evolved very far from Caveman Days: We still have folks taking advantage of other folks.
Hey,that is not cool.Don't you watch those GEICO commercials?Yes,we are still around!
Of Course! How could you miss them?
Now, Go Back In Your Cave!
We see this over and over and over.....
I wish the Network news, USA today and local papers would make this a headline story so some of these people that don't have internet access will know not to fall for these scams ...
Sad, but true :
As long as people have money, there will always be predators looking to steal it.
Sadly man has not evolved very far from Caveman Days: We still have folks taking advantage of other folks.
Hey,that is not cool.Don't you watch those GEICO commercials?Yes,we are still around!
Of Course! How could you miss them?
Now, Go Back In Your Cave!
What about my roast duck and mango salsa?
We see this over and over and over.....
I wish the Network news, USA today and local papers would make this a headline story so some of these people that don't have internet access will know not to fall for these scams ...
Sad, but true :
As long as people have money, there will always be predators looking to steal it.
Sadly man has not evolved very far from Caveman Days: We still have folks taking advantage of other folks.
Hey,that is not cool.Don't you watch those GEICO commercials?Yes,we are still around!
Of Course! How could you miss them?
Now, Go Back In Your Cave!
What about my roast duck and mango salsa?
You Can Have It To Go!
some people just don't have any common sense - and to give your savings away - when you only have $5k to your name - you give it to someone who says you won a lottery in the VIirgin Islands - IMHO - that is not having any common sense............
I've got no respect for the scammers, but they are only taking advantage of the stupidity and gullibility of the public and you'll have to admit that they are very good at what they do.
It just amazes me no end how stupid people are to fall for this stuff.
The old adage "If it's too good to be true, it probably is" is the simplest remedy to this stuff.
Well I've been through this one, fortunately it was only an 1800 dollar mistake, but it still is bad! I got the letter saying that I had won $300,000.00, and I was ECSTATIC! We all were. (Probably a big reason we really got serious with the lottery... but long story short, thankfully, mine didn't happen the way that most people's do, and they let me make payments on it, but what's the point in reporting it once it's done? The authorities don't give your money back, and we talked to the Royal Mounted Police (mine was Canadian) and they said there's really no way to trace them and no hope to catch them. And that's probably why alot of it doesn't go reported. On the bright side, probably thousands of these things are going out, at least people aren't falling for it AS much as they were. Awareness is being raised. I just can't wait til one of the hundred or so (at LEAST) rings get busted up. At least that will make some of us feel better